Five Beauty Favourites 2020

Five Beauty Favourites 2020

*Gifted. It’s safe to say it’s been a dark, wet and miserable start to 2020, I don’t think we have seen the sunshine so far this year and my skin has been bearing the brunt of this. My skin has felt dry and dull, what with the effects of the central heating and lack of sunshine, I have really been relying on my skincare and makeup to help revive my complexion. I thought I would share with you a few products that have become staples in my routine which I’ve been using religiously over the past couple of months.

Five Beauty Favourites 2020

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane 30ml

I love so many products from The Ordinary Skincare but this serum is pretty epic. I have used it for over a year now and can’t imagine my skincare routine without it. Apart from the fact this brand is incredibly affordable their skincare is fantastic quality and shows real results. This didn’t irritate my skin despite it having quite a high concentration of Retinoid, it is easy to apply and doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy. I apply it at night 2 – 3 times a week, as my first step after cleansing and I wake up with smooth, bright, plump skin. Over time this serum helps increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen which helps to reduce the signs of ageing, like uneven skin tone, age spots and reduces fine lines & wrinkles.

This product is a great way to achieve that youthful, healthy glow, in terms of long term use you really see your complexion improve. It is like liquid gold! Just remember Retinoids can react with more sensitive skin, so dilute at first if you are concerned (or use the 1% version) also please remember to use a high factor SPF as your skin will be more vulnerable to the damaging effects of UVA & UVB rays.

Vegan & Cruelty Free

Tropic Beauty Booster Sheer Foundation SPF35*

Although I’m someone who doesn’t like to wear much makeup on a daily basis, I still like that look of being put together and like my skin to look evened out with a little glow. This Beauty Booster from Tropic gives me just that. It is lightweight and I just apply it with my fingers on top of my moisturiser. It leaves my skin with a nice touch of colour, helping to reduce redness, uneven skin tone and gives the illusion that I haven’t seen the sun for MONTHS! The other wonderful things about this lightweight, almost tinted moisturiser (with a bit more coverage) is the fact it has UVA, UVB and HEV (artificial light) protection and SPF35, so if you do venture out you know your skin is well protected.

Antioxidant-rich resveratrol and vitamin E help to condition the skin, while building defences against daily pollution. Titanium dioxide gives a mineral SPF of 35 to shield against everyday exposure. So if you’re looking for a base that gives you an even, lightweight, natural dewy finish then this Tropic Beauty Booster is the one. I have been loving it and using it every day as my base to combat my tired, dry winter skin!

Vegan & Cruelty Free

Miller Harris Peau Santal Perfume

Miller Harris Peau Santal Perfume*

This is my happiness in a bottle, it smells beautiful and so luxurious, it makes me feel amazing whenever I wear it. The scent is uplifting and just gives me a reminder that warmer, brighter days are on the horizon (even if it is raining cats and dogs). It has such a rich, warm creamy scent but you get a hint of fresh, airy crisp notes as it settles. I am not exaggerating when I say this perfume is the most sophisticated and beautiful perfume I have ever owned, and I love quite a few Miller Harris perfumes but this one has something special.

The woody notes add a real touch of warmth and class whilst the bergamot and cashmere give it creaminess and class. The pink pepper, amber and vanilla make it modern and very sexy.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Pink Pepper and Saffron
Heart Notes: Olibanum, Violet Leaf and Papyrus
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Cashmere Woods, Crisp Amber, Vanilla CO2 Extract and Moss

This would make the most luxurious, thoughtful gift or treat to yourself, it’s a beautiful perfume and the scent lasts so long, I can smell it on my scarf/coat days after I have spritzed it. The quality is second to none. The bottle is also beautiful, the minimal dusky pink give it a subtle, classy feel and the simple gold accents on the font and the lid add a touch of luxury, the bottle is very weighty too and feels so nice in your hand and also looks great on your vanity.

Ark Skincare Firming Serum

ARK Skin Perfector Firming Serum*

I tried a few products from UK based ARK skincare last year and was very impressed with their ethos of products that target specific skin concerns depending on your age, as our skin changes so much as we get older and ARK have targeted skincare so it is easy for you to include it in your routine and see fantastic results.  This Firming Serum has been a skincare saviour for me this year as it targets your skins loss of elasticity and works to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and with my skin being so dry from the weather it has helped smooth, hydrate and plump! So if like me you’re in your early 40s this is a wonderful product to use for long term results. I like to mix the serum in with my moisturiser and apply it as part of my morning skincare regime.

It is jam packed with some wonderful ingredients that help keep your skin looking fresh, smooth and healthy.

Micro Algae Extract – Highly purified microalgae extract delivers an instant and long-term tightening effects

Hyaluronic Acid – Active 100% natural Hyaluronic Acid locks moisture in the skin matrix and improves collagen synthesis. Skin appears firmer and more flexible, while fine lines are plumped and smoothed.

Biomimetic Lipopeptide Idealift – targets skin sagging and improves resistance to gravity by promoting skin’s elastic fibre architecture

ARK Skincare is proudly developed & manufactured in Britain. Cruelty Free, with many of their products being Vegan friendly. They use Bioactive, natural ingredients that are gentle on your skin but give effective results.  You can browse their entire range on their website www.arkskincare.com  and tailor your skincare for your specific skin concerns and age.

The Ordinary Retinoid SerumSkincare

Delilah Illuminating Powder in Aura

I love this compact, not only the fact that it is a beautiful rose gold & pewter but it has a good size mirror which makes it perfect for keeping in your handbag. This stunning bronzing/highlighter is also a wonderful product to add a touch of radiance to that Winter complexion without going OTT on the glow. It’s a mix of rose gold, soft peach and lavender pink and I just swirl my brush to pick up a little of all the colours and it gives my cheekbones a nice bronzy warm touch of colour. Such a beautiful product and a very luxurious and not so well known brand, their blushers are super nice too.

*Products have been provided as PR samples but reviews are 100% my own.

Products For Getting That Glow

Glow Getting Products

Products For Radiant Skin

REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial

This comes out a really vibrant green shade which is cool and odd in equal measure! The product itself is so good and I have been through a few tubes of this over the past 2 years. Its amazing if you are pushed for time and want your skin to look fresh and bright as you only need to leave it on for 1 minute (so fast). You massage a small amount of warm water to activate the Vitamin C and let it get to work brightening your complexion. You leave the product on your skin for 1 minute then you rinse with warm water and that’s when the tiny exfoliating beads get to work by buffing and removing dead skin and help fight the signs of fatigue, boost skins radiance levels and reduce imperfections.

Soap & Glory Wonderbronze

This is a very pretty bronzing highlighter, it’s a great way of giving your skin that sun-kissed look without having been in the sunshine. I just swirl my brush round all the colours and apply it with my duo fibre brush, using this type of brush I find I don’t pick up too much product on my brush. I am all about a subtle glow. I really like Soap & Glory face powders and I also like the Solar Powder too for days I want an even more low-key look but still a nice subtle glow.

Liz Earle Eye Bright Soothing Eye Lotion

This is such a lovely part of my morning skincare routine, it’s so soothing and cooling. I keep it in the fridge so its nice and cold, I put a little liquid on each cotton pad then I hold them on my tired eyes for about a minute and it feels amazing. It contains naturally active ingredients including eyebright, witch hazel, aloe vera and cornflower to help tone, cool and refresh tired, puffy eyes. Nothing feels more soothing in the morning & I apply this whilst I’m waiting on the kettle to boil every morning. Does that count as multi tasking?!

Favourite Radiant Skincare Products

Glow Getting Products

Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes in Bountiful Beige

This is quite a new discovery for me but I like how bright and pretty this cream shadow is. It’s a champagne colour and helps make your eyes look bright and awake. It’s a really nice everyday colour and I have been wearing it alone all over the lid. These apply really smoothly and are easy to blend, they contain vitamin E for soothing and smoothing the delicate eye area. So it’s an eyeshadow with a little extra skincare benefit too.

Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel

This mask came in a beauty box a while ago and I rediscovered it when I moved house last year and Its become my go to mask this Winter. The Facial Glow peel contains natural actives derived from apples, papayas, and orange peels to gently exfoliate dead skin cells; there’s also Kombuchka and Lumiskin to help refine the skin and boost radiance. It’s a great product for getting rid of dead skin leaving your face looking bright and glowing. I only have a small travel size but I will be purchasing the larger tub because I can’t be without this in my routine.

  • Apply peel to clean, damp skin from neck to forehead. Do not scrub.
  • Leave for 4 minutes.
  • Remove with a face cloth soaked in warm water.

Estée Lauder Even Skintone Illuminator

I have been mixing this with my foundation to give my skin that extra radiance. It’s not glittery or shimmery it just reflects the light and adds a luminous glow to your skin & mixed in with my foundation it looks natural and really healthy. Its oil free so it’s not going to make your skin look greasy its a really great product for brightening tried looking skin and I have been using it daily over the Winter months.

What are your favourite products for achieving that fresh-faced glow?